Series – Armor

DRR 60289 – TIGER I

Hybrid (early production turret w late production running gear)

4.s.Pz.Kp. “Hummel” s.Pz.Abt.506 Ardennes 1944

Scale – 1/72

Released – estimated May 2007

Condition – PRE-ORDER*

Retails up to $27.50

List Price – $20.63 You save $6.87 / 25%

Dragon constantly increase the price on its Armor series products!  This is the first Dragon Tiger I model that relaesed with high price that before was on open top, detailed interior models (Hornise and Hummel).

Discounts are available for regular customers and with purchasing of other military models please inquire.

*Please note that your credit card will be charged at the time of the order.  If you will order additional models at the time when this model will be released you will be able to combine shipments.  Upon your request shipment of pre-ordered models can be delayed to a specific date or until a combine shipment with your other order.   In case Dragon will delay a release of a pre-ordered model you can get a full refund or use the prepaid amount towards purchasing of other products from my store.

About this release

“Dragon has ensured continued production of the famous Tiger I in the form of this latest Dragon Armor release. In fact, this 1/72 scale model features a rather unique Tiger that mixes some distinctive features. It has an Early Production turret, but it also possesses late-style steel wheels. This allows a most interesting Tiger to be acquired by model collectors, something different to the run of the mill. Detail on the tank is precise and accurate, while a three-color camouflage scheme presents a most attractive appearance. This model armored vehicle is also finished with a tasteful degree of weathering. Model collectors will be queuing up to acquire this distinctive new striped Tiger!” source www.dragonmodelsusa.com

In August 1944 s.Pz.Abt.506 was fully refitted with new King Tiger tanks and was a full strength of 45 tanks.  After participating in defense of Arnhem, the battalion became of an unusual organization after receiving a 4^th company, the S.Pz.Kp. Hummel. 

The Allied drive out of Normandy decimated the units trapped in the 'Falaise Gap' and the remnants trying to cross the Seine river. With open space all the way to Berlin, the schwere Panzer Kompanie Einzats Dunkirchen was hastily formed by the schwere Panzer Erzats und Ausbildungs Abteilung 500 at the training grounds near Paderborn. This unit with 14 Tiger Is was sent west on 19 September to stop the British spearhead at Arnhem in Holland. It was renamed the next day, sPzKp Hummel after its commanding officer.  The company was  incorporated into sPzAbt.506 as the 4.Kompanie on 8.December 1944.

Tiger I – Hybrid were remanufactured Tigers or tanks used at testing grounds and thus have a combination of constructive features from early, mid and late production Tiger I.  This particular one has an early production turret that can be easily recognized by its tall commander cupola but at the same time it has late production running gear. 

ABOUT THE TANK
Panzerkampfagen (Tank) VI Ausf (Modification) E (Sd Kfz 181)
Other designation: TIGER (Tiger I after 8/1944); VK54501 (H))
Type: Heavy tank
Manufacturer: Henschel, Wegmann
In production: July 1942 – August 1944
Production: 1,354
Engine: Maybach HL210P45
Speed:(km/m) 38 / 23mph
Range:(km/m) 140
Weight:(tons) 57
Size:(m/foot) L 8.45/28.17; W 3.7/12.33'; H 2.93/ 9.77'
Crew: 5
Armament: One 8.8 cm KwK36 L/56; Two 7.92mm MG34
Ammunition: 92 Pzgr 4,800 Patr SmK Spgr
ARMOUR (mm/o) Front Side Rear Top/Bottom
Turret 100/8 80/0 80/0 25/81-90 Superstructure: 100/10 80/0 25/90
Hull: 100/24 60/0 80/8 25/90
Gun mantlet: 100-110/0

HISTORY
In 1937 Henschel started to develop a heavy breakthrough tank which would be about 50 percent heavier than the Pz Kpfw IV, two prototype were developed DW 1 and after an order followed in 1938 DW II.
In late 1939 Waffenamt (Ordnance Department) issued an order to develop a heavy tank project VK3001. Two major competitors for this project were Henschel (H) and Porsche (P). Henschel utilized the same hull arrangement as on DW II. In early 1941 after trials first VK3001 (H) were completed but in May the project was abandon in favor of heavier VK3601. On May 26, 1941 the order to design VK4501 was issued. Both Henschel and Nibelungewerke (Porsche) extensively used experience and test results from their VK30001 project vehicles. Henschel won the contract for VK4501 (H) and the most famous tank in the history was born. It becomes known as Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf E (Sd Kfz 181) or The Tiger Tank, after development of the Kingtiger in late 1944 the Tiger tank become Tiger I.
Krupp developed and manufactured the turret for both VK4501 (P) and the VK4501 (H). Production started in July 1942, with 335 to be completed by the time of the 1943 summer offence, which was planned on May 12. The original order was 285 pcs but since 50 units were halted in production at Nibelungewerke additional 50 units was ordered to compensate the loss. Only 1,354 were built during July 1942 – August 1944.
Ninety hulls were in production at Nibelungewerke for Tiger (P) 88 were converted to heavy tank destroyer the famous Ferdinand, with 48 left by the end of German 1944 summer offense returned to the factory were modified and upgraded and renamed to Elefant; two were converted in an evacuation vehicles.
To support its 57 tons the Tiger had eight sets of interleaved road wheels with torsion bars suspension. The dish type road wheels were replaced with new steel-tyred, rubber-cushioned type in January 1944. For transportation a different narrow track set was used. In order to use it engineers need to be removing outer wheel row. To transport Tiger tanks a special railroad platform was designed and used.
The hull and superstructure were welded together. In order to allow an installation of a wide turret the superstructure extended over the tracks. The 8.8 cm (88 mm) gun developed from dual purpose Anti-Aircraft / Anti-Tank gun was mounted in the external gun mantlet. One MG34 machine gun was install coaxially along with the main gun and one in the front of the superstructure.
Original turret design had two machine-pistol ports in the rear and a cylindrical cupola with vision slits. In December 1942 an escape hutch replaced the pistol port on the right side and since July 1943 it was equipped with newest design commander cupola with periscopes. Maybach HL230P30 engine, which improved automotive performance, was installed since May 1943. During the production numerous modification were made to improve tank performance. The Ausf (Variant) E was the only version but production divided in Early, Mid and Late Production models. Early production models had such features as schnorkel tube that allowed the tank wade to a depth of 13ft and the “Feifel” air cleaner system. Anti-personal small mine launchers located at a turret both front corner. These features were abandoned. Zimmerit Paste coating (protection against anti-tank magnetic mines) was applied at the factory for all late production models. The coating also was applied at tank repair shops, therefore early and mid production units also could be seen on pictures with a Zimmerit coating. The order was to cover vertical surface of a tank but not a turret, track guards or tracks, however it was widely ignored and practically on every picture that shows a tank with Zimmerit coating you will see a turret covered with it.
Eighty-four of Tiger tanks were issued as “Pz Bef Wg mit 8.8cm KwK L/56” – command observation tank, which was equipped with additional radio set. In order to accommodate it ammunition stowage was reduced to 66 rounds for the 8.8cm and 4,050 Patr for machine-guns. A few were field converted to evacuation and special purpose vehicles. Three Tigers were sold to Hungary in July 1944. One Tiger tank was sold to the Imperial Japanese Army, but was never delivered to Japan. Eventually it was lease to Germans. Interestly it was sold at a few times of its price. In August – December 1944 eighteen Tiger tanks, which were returned from the front with turret damage were converted to Sturmmorser Tiger (Sturmtiger) – Assault rocket mortar, which fired 38cm rocket-assisted ammunition (originally design as an anti-submarine weapon). All were issued to Sturmmorser Companies 1001, 1002 and 1003.
The first unit equipped with Tiger tanks was the 1st Platoon of the 502nd schwere (company), Panzerabteilung /PzAbt (heavy tank battalion detachment). It was rushed to the Leningrad area in August 1942. It was a total disaster; tanks were used in a terrain kind absolutely unsuitable for heavy tanks. The Russians captured one of the new Tiger tanks, which was on display at the Gorky park in Moscow during the famous exebition of captured German weapons and send to Kybinka (famous Russian tank test ground)
All Tiger tanks were issued to army and SS as heavy tank battalion detachments and were transferred as needed.
Every crewmember was selected from experienced tankers only, than the entire crew will pass through very extensive theory and practice course before its deployment to the front. During the 1943 Summer offensive in the Kursk area (The Battle of The Kursk / Operation Citadel) Germans used a mass use of the Tiger tanks. In wide-open Russian fields environment it was at its best, destroying Russian tanks at will. During the largest tank battle in history – The Battle of Prokhorovka Russians managed destroy numbers of Tiger Tanks while point blank shooting. Russian also manage destroy numerous of Tiger tanks by air attack. Attacks by legendary IL-2 - “Styrmovik” (assault plane) inflicted very heavy losses on German Tank Division during The Battle of Kursk.
The Tiger tank was in service until the end of the war and had taken a very heavy toll of enemy armour and personal on all fronts. Most allied tanks could managed a Tiger tank only if they had a chance to approach it to a close distance and use Tiger weakness in order to knock it from side or back. It also was a great psychological weapon that raised German troops moral and inflicted a significant damage on Allied forces. The greatest tank ace Michael Wittmann scored most of his victories on both East and West Fronts while serving with a Tiger tank company.

Heavily armed and armored the 57 tons tank, surprisingly, could negotiate obstacles very well in other hand low power to weight ratio allowed relatively low speed especially on a soft ground and poor maneuverability. Another weakness was its turret rotation low speed. Tank required constant maintenance that could be made by highly trained personal only. Many regular procedures could be made at specialized facility only that required tanks evacuation from the front area. It had very high fuel consumption that became a tremendous problem for Germans by the end of the war; many were abandoned just because of a fuel shortage. The tank was very expensive in production and maintenance and required significant time to built one.

schwere Panzer Abteilungen (sPzAbt) 506

The 506th was formed in July 1943, primarily from personnel of III Abt./Pz. Rgt. 33 of 9^th. Pz. Div. In August, the battalion received forty-five new Tiger I tanks. The unit was engaged in the Dnieper battles in 1943. On New Year's Day, 1944, sPzAbt 506 went to the area south of Korovograd, and fought in Krivoi-Rog. In 1944, sPzAbt 506 was withdrawn to Germany for refitting and preparation for action in the West. Their Tiger Is were distributed as replacement vehicles to other units. sPzAbt 506 received new Tiger II Ausf Bs in August 1944. The full battalion establishment of 45 tanks was retained. In late September, the battalion was sent to the area around Oosterbeck, west of Arnhem. It took part in the German defense against the combined Allied thrust to the Rhine during OPERATION MARKET GARDEN.

The following month, sPzAbt 506 Took part in the defense of Aachen. In November 1944, the battalion was strengthened by the addition of a 4^th company. This new company had been organized originally as a heavy assault support unit, used wherever necessary - a Feuerwehr (fire brigade). Its first commander was named Hummel, and this was the name given to the company. sPzKp. "Hummel": (now 4^th company, sPzAbt 506) was equipped with Tiger Is. This new company was fully integrated by early December 1944.
The only Heer Tiger battalion to take part in the Ardennes offensive was sPzAbt 506. It took part in the defense of Germany and finally surrendered to US forces in the Ruhr pocket on April of 1945.